Matter is the physical substance that makes up everything in our surroundings. From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the food we eat, and the objects we use daily, all are forms of matter. It is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. The study of matter helps us understand its structure, behavior, and properties. By observing how matter moves, spreads, or interacts, scientists explain everyday phenomena such as diffusion, dissolving, and heating. Understanding matter is fundamental to physics, chemistry, and life itself, as it forms the building blocks of the universe.
Here are the key points:
1. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space
Matter includes everything you can touch, see, or measure—like pen, table, water, rocks, air, even your mobile. It must have mass (weight) and must occupy some space (volume). Non-physical things like emotions, thoughts, or feelings are not matter because they have no mass and do not take up space.
2. Almost everything around us is matter except emotions
Objects like furniture, books, buildings, the human body, and even gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide are all matter. But love, anger, happiness, fear, etc., are not matter. These experiences don’t have physical existence; they cannot be touched or measured.
3. All matter is made of extremely tiny particles
These tiny particles are called atoms and molecules. They are so small that even a high-power microscope cannot show them individually. Every solid, liquid, or gas is made of billions of these particles tightly or loosely packed.
4. Particles of matter are very, very small in size
The smallness can be understood by examples:
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A single drop of water contains nearly 10²¹ particles—that’s a trillion times a trillion particles.
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A few crystals of potassium permanganate can colour a full bucket of water.
This proves that the particles are extremely tiny.
5. Particles of matter have spaces between them
The amount of empty space depends on the state of matter:
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Solids: very little space; particles packed tightly.
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Liquids: moderate space; particles can slide over each other.
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Gases: maximum space; particles are far apart.
This space allows substances like sugar or salt to mix in water without increasing the water level.
6. Particles of matter are constantly moving (show motion)
They never stay still.
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Solids: particles vibrate in fixed positions.
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Liquids: particles move freely and slide past each other.
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Gases: particles move rapidly in all directions.
Their motion is the reason why smell spreads, colours mix, and gases fill any container instantly.
7. Increasing temperature increases particle motion
When matter is heated:
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Temperature increases
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Kinetic energy of particles increases
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They move faster
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They mix more quickly
For example, potassium permanganate spreads faster in hot water than in cold water. Heat speeds up diffusion because the particles gain more energy.
8. Particles of matter attract each other
This inter-particle attraction varies in strength:
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Strongest in solids: Hardest to break or shape.
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Moderate in liquids: Liquids flow but don’t break apart easily.
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Weakest in gases: Particles are independent and far apart.
This force explains why solids retain shape, liquids flow, and gases spread.
9. Diffusion is the natural mixing of particles
Diffusion means particles of different substances mix on their own without help.
Examples:
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Smell of perfume or incense stick spreading in a room
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Sugar dissolving in water
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Ink spreading in water
Diffusion is fastest in gases, slower in liquids, and very slow in solids because of differences in particle motion and spacing.
10. Everyday phenomena prove particle nature of matter
Many daily observations support all these properties:
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The smell of cooking reaches far rooms (gas diffusion).
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Fish breathe underwater because oxygen diffuses into water
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Hot food smells more because heat increases particle movement.
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Solids like chalk break easily but iron is stronger due to force of attraction.
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Together, these examples confirm that matter is made of tiny, moving particles that have space, motion, and attraction.